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The head of Sudan’s military announced that the country will not participate in the upcoming peace talks in Switzerland after he survived an assassination attempt earlier today.

What’s the deal: Today, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan’s army, survived an assassination attempt when a drone strike targeted a military graduation ceremony at the Gibeit army base in eastern Sudan. Video footage captured the moment soldiers were marching, only to be interrupted by an explosion. Addressing his troops afterward, al-Burhan vowed that the military would continue in their fight against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and there would be no peace talks.

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What the RSF is saying: The RSF has denied any responsibility for the drone strike targeting the military graduation ceremony at the Gibeit army base. Mohamed al-Mukhtar, an RSF adviser, attributed the attack to internal conflicts among Islamist factions within Sudan, dismissing any RSF involvement.

Peace talks?: Saudi Arabia and the United States are sponsoring the upcoming peace talks in Switzerland, set for August 14, 2024. Previous attempts at mediation, including direct talks in Saudi Arabia, have failed to produce lasting ceasefires. Observers from the United Nations, African Union, and Egypt will be present, along with the United Arab Emirates, despite allegations that the UAE has been arming the RSF.

Some background: The conflict between the RSF and the SAF began as a power struggle in April 2023. The fighting started over plans to integrate the RSF into the national military (SAF), which threatened the RSF’s independence as a powerful paramilitary group. This quickly escalated into a full-scale war, heavily impacting the capital, Khartoum, and the Darfur region. Both sides have been accused of severe human rights violations, including targeting civilians, indiscriminate shelling, and obstructing humanitarian aid. The RSF has taken control of significant areas, including Darfur and Gezira state, while the SAF remains committed to a military solution, resisting peace talks. The ongoing violence has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing millions and resulting in thousands of deaths.​

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